(04/10/02) I had designed me own PVC Pipe Launch pad with removable legs (that reassembled in t' a rod holder) and used it for a little over 3 years. Avast, me proud beauty! It be a fine design and met all o' me rocketry needs, matey, until last year. Last year is when I shifted toward usin' Blacksky Rail systems. Ahoy! So what? Well, matey, t' extra weight o' t' rails when combined with my larger rockets put t' center o' gravity too high. Begad! Arrr! This was noticed at a time of a launch where t' rocket came off t' pad at a bad angle because t' pad tipped upon initial thrust. |
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I could have built a new pad or added weight to t' legs, but I felt it was time t' put some loot out and get something with "features". I ended up purchasin' a Yellow Jacket Wasp Launch pad (at their introductory price) and since then have nay looked back once.
T' Wasp pad, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, me bucko, accordin' t' Yellow Jacket, is designed t' be "small and light enough for model rockets but strong and stable enough for small HPR rockets up through low H impulse--and everythin' in-between. Arrr! Perfect for mid-power E through G powered rockets." This was exactly what I was lookin' for and I wanted it to be able t' accept me Blacksky rail. T' Wasp accepts 1/8" t' 3/8" diameter rods and comes with 3 adaptors (3/16", 1/4" and 3/8") to keep t' smaller rods centered and held tight in t' pad (Note: I use the 3/16" on a 1/8" rod, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, however, YJ now offers a 1/8" as a special order). Ahoy! It also comes with instructions for convertin' your Blacksky Rail t' be used in t' Wasp pad. Nay a big deal, just a change from t' 1/4" mount to a 3/8" mount. |
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One o' me other concerns in purchasin' a pad be its size. Ya scallywag! I just couldn't tell from t' Yellow Jacket's webpage how this thin' broke down. Avast, me proud beauty! A note out thar on RMR got me me answer and I went ahead and purchased it. T' Wasp's legs fold together into a straight section and t' launch pad's head is removable. Avast, me proud beauty! This allows it t' fit in t' trunk of my car with no problem. |
While on RMR, I found these comments:
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Launch angle adjustment is simple, me bucko, matey, too. Called t' "elevation" in Yellow Jackets' picture, it is adjustment by simply turnin' t' mechanism. Avast! Yellow Jacket says that this ". Avast! . Ahoy! Well, blow me down! . Well, blow me down! is fitted with precision steel self lubricatin' ball-joint rod ends. Begad! Ya scallywag! No plastic parts or cheap swin' bolts here." There is a pull-pin on this assembly for tiltin' down t' rod t' load a rocket, too. |
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T' whole launch pad head spins around simply by loosenin' t' large thumbscrew that holds t' head onto t' launch stand. This is also how you can remove t' whole head assembly.
Lastly, it shipped with a 9" diameter (1/16"
thick) stainless steel blast defector.
So, matey, thar be nay much else t' say. Avast! It is an easy t' use, easy t' transport, arrr, tough launch pad that is great for me rocket activity. I have used it with Estes' sized stuff and up t' a 2 lb, 36" tall rocket. Well, blow me down! It is heavy enough t' nay be negatively effected by t' Blacksky rail with a 2 lb rocket.
I give t' pad an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points.
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